Method and apparatus for injecting fuel into internal combustion engines



P. c. zuMBUscl-l 2,088,007 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INJECTING FUEL INTOINTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES July 27, 1937.

Filed Dec. 5, 1955 Ill INVENToR Pzurnasdz BY WM.. a

' ATTORNEY Patented July 27,. 1937 UNITED 'STATES 'lnzirelyr oFFicEMETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INJECTING FUEL INTO INTERNAL .,COMBUSTION EN- IGINES Peter C. Zumbusch, Easton, Pa.. Application December 5, 1935,Serial No. 52,957 23 claims. (o1. 29e-407.2)

The present invention relates to the injection of fuel in internalcombustion engines, and while the description is particularly directedto the application of the invention to the injection of liquid fuel intoengines of the Diesel type, in

which ignition is effected by the heat of compression, in the enginecylinders, the invention is nevertheless applicableI to enginesemploying lighter fuels and having other typesv of ignition systems. v

It has hitherto been the practice-in designing and operating Dieselengines, as well asA other Ainternal combustion engines employing fuelsinjected as liquids, to use a high pressure fuel pump 15 in order tosupply fuel to an atomizer. Atomization has, heretofore, beenaccomplished by forcing fuel through a fln'e orice, by compressed airor, as in solid injection systems, by means of hydraulic pressureWithout the aid of compressed 5 air. The pressures must necessarily bevery high in order to force the required quantity of fuel through thefine orifices necessary for proper atomization, in the short duration ofthe period of injection. The speed at which it is, at present, practicalto run engines with solid injection, is limited by diiculties associatedwith the very high hydraulic pressures required to force the desiredfuel charge through the atomizer in the exceedingly short 'injectionperiod (for high speed 30 engines). l-

'I'he field of usefulness' of internal combustion engines employingfuels injected'as liquids is not at all limited to marine equipment norto stationary power plants, as there has in fact already 35 been adecided advance toward Diesel engine proautomotive vehicles andaircraft.4

pulsion of Here, however, the development has been hampered by thealready referred to requirement for extremely high pressures foraccomplishing the 40 injection of the fuel in high speed enginescomparable with high speed gasoline engines running at 3200-3700 R. P.M., such pressures being,

for instance, in the neighborhood of five thousand to twenty thousand`pounds per square inch.

45 Pressures `of the magnitude indicated require very carefully made andcostly equipment and the result has been that commercial Diesel enginesfor automotive vehicle or aircraft propulsion have been built to operatein the neighborhood of 50 about 2200 R. P. M., in consequence of whichthe well known advantages of high engine lspeeds such as are nowgenerally employedforv vehicular or aircraft propulsion, are notobtained.

' Aside from the general objections and diilicul- 55 ties associatedwith high pressure injection syscut-off sleeves or tems for internalcombustion engines, such asA clogging of nozzles, leakage of connectionsand seals, causing a corresponding inaccuracy in the fuel charge-foreach cylinder, and others at presv ent recognized by designers andoperators, several further specific diiiiculties are encountered withthe exceedingly high pressure `fuel injection required for enginesdesigned and operatedat relatively high speeds. These are: an air boundsystem; difficulties due to the compressibility of the fuel at highpressures, as well as to the elasticity of ,the vmaterial of which thefuel line is made, which together cause pulsations and vibrations; andfurther as vthe fuel charge is very small, wear ofpump parts causes aproportionatly greater irregularity of fuel charge than would beencountered with low pressure systems.

It is the primary object of the present invention to overcome thevarious diilculties and objections referred to by providing a fuelinjector eliminating high injection pressures, fuel injection pumps andnozzles, thereby improving upon present methods of injection and makingit possible to operate at considerably higher speeds A than haveheretofore been obtainable.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedmethod of injecting liquid fuel into an internal combustion engine whichcomprises spraying the fuel into the combustion chamber of the enginesubstantially radially over a peripheral path, whereby to obtain a widerand more uniform within the combustion chamber with attendant improvedcombustion thereof.

It is another object of the invention to provide a fuel oil injectorwhich meters the fuel oil accurately at various loads without thenecessity of by-pass valves, vand which effects an even ow of atomizedfuel at all loads f-by reason of elimination of the pulsations vwhichdistribution. of atomized fueli Another object of the invention is toprovide an injector having moving parts of small mass and low inertia,whereby higher operating speeds can be more readily and moreeconomically obtained. f

A further object is to provide a fuel injector which is light in weightbecause of elimination of high operating pressures, and which for thesame reason is more economical to manufacture.

Still another object is to provide an injector having a positive andeasy adjustment for theA quantity .of fuel supplied to' a singlecylinder,

and. also to provide for equal, though readily` multi-cylinder engines,

- plunger 5.

These and other objects of the invention will be more fully apparent asthe description prooeeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in cross-section of afuel oil injector in accordancewith the present invention, the parts being shown in the non-injectingcharged position.

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure l, but with the parts in the oilinjecting position.

Figure 3 is a view in cross-section and' on an enlarged scale of oneform of oil atomizing elementin accordance with the invention.

Figure 4.- is a view similar to Figure 3 showing another form of oilatomizing unit.

Figure 5 is another view similar toFigure 3 showing still anotherform ofoil atomizing unit.

Referring to Figure l, my fuel oil injector in one of its embodimentscomprises a body member I provided with screw threads 2 for securing`the body member in the head of an engine cylinder. The body member iscentrally bored to receive with a relatively close working fit a shankI3 of an atomizing element, the latter of which per portion of the bodymember I is bored out4 to an enlarged diameter to receive with arelatively close working fit a hollowelongated plunger 5, which issecured against a shoulder formed on the shank 3 by a reduced portion ofthe shank, by securing means in the form of a nut 6 threaded on athreaded upper portion of the shank 3.

An adjusting member 1, .the function of which will be explained morefully hereinafter, is provided with a depending externally threadedflange which is split to form a plurality of segments 1', the threads ofwhich flange are adapted to cooperate with internal threads formedwithin the upper end of the hollow elongated A split collar 'I-" ofrelatively heavy resilient material is compressed and forced within thecentral opening of the depending flange and serves to expand thesegments 1. and form a friction lock for the threads on the flange andthe plunger. An adjusting wheel s is Secured in a suitable manner to anupward extension of the adjusting member l, whereby rotation of thewheel 8 will vary the longitudinal relationship of the adjusting member'I and the plunger 5 through the medium of the threaded engagementtherebetween. In order to prevent rotation of the plunger with theadjusting member, a pin 5 is provided, one end of which is secured inthe wall of the body member I and the other end of which is adapted toengage an opening 5" in the wall of the plunger. A ange 9, preferably ofa metal such as hardened steel, is secured to the upward extensionfofthe adjusting,

member 1 and serves to receive hammer blowsl of a percussion head I0.The latter, which is hollowed out on its upper surface to receive the.

of sturdy pins I4 secured in the percussion head.

`and extending radially outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axisof the injector.

A guide sleeve I5, suitably apertured at I6 to permit vertical movementof the pins I4, is secured to the body member I and overlies adepending' flange of the adjusting wheel 8.

'Ihe body member l is hollowed out to form a chamber I'I concentricallydisposed with respect to the shank 3 and the plunger 5. The body memberis also bored out at I8 to form an oil inlet passage communicating withthe chamber II, and is further bored out at I9 to provide an oildischarge passagel likewise communicating with the chamber I'I. A springpressed suction `valve 20 is provided in the'oil inlet passage'l,

which valve 'is arranged to permit oil to be drawn therethrough into thechamber I'I from a source of supply, but which prevents a return flow ofthe oil to the source.` A spring pressed check valveZI is disposed inthe oil discharge passage i9, this valve being provided to permit flowof oil out of the chamber I'I but not back into the chamber, once it hasbeen discharged therefrom. The body member I is still further hollowedout to form a chamber 22 concentrically disposed with respect to theshank 3, and a passage 23 is provided, which connects the oil dischargeoutlet I9 of the chamber I 'I with the chamber 22, While the aperture 24in the lower end of the body member and through which the shank 3passes, forms an annular passage between the body member and a reducedportion of the shank 3. 4The lower end of the body member I mayconveniently be formed by a bushing I', so as to facilitate theformation of the chamber 22 and of the passage 23.

The construction of my injector at the end adjacent the oil atomizingelement, which includes the atomizer plate 4, is of special importanceto the present invention, and it is therefore shown on an enlarged scalein Figure 3, from which it will be seen that a diaphragm-like element 25is interposed between the upper surface of the atomizer plate 4 and thelower surface of the body member bushing I'. This diaphragm ispreferably made of spring steel of sulficient resiliency to permit areciprocating movement of the shank 3, and with sulicient stiffness Inthe operation of my injector device, the per.

cussion head I0 is reciproc'ated at a rate dependent upon the numberv ofrevolutions at which the engine is operating, the reciprocation beingeffected by releasing the pins I4 and alternately returning them totheir normal position, by reason of which the coiled spring I3 isalternately expanded and compressed.

Upon upward movement of the percussion head I0 under the influence' ofthe spring I3, the percussion head forcibly engages the ange 9, whichlatten-being secured to the shank 3 moves the latter upwardly a distancewhich is limited only by the position of the adjusting member 1 and thepredetermined dimensions of the atomizing element. At the same time theupward movement of the plunger 5 draws oil through the suction valve 20into the chamber I'I. Upon the return movement of the pins I4, the shank3 is returned to its initial position, carrying with it the plunger 5which then expels oil from the chamber I'I into the passage 23, thechamber 22 and the space between the atomizer plate 4 and the diaphragm25. When, by successive reciprocatory movements of the shank 3thevarious passages have become lled with oil, each succeeding upwardstroke ofthe shank 3, aided by the incompressibility of the` oil at lowpressures, causes the diaphragm 25 to be sprung, forming a peripheralpassage between the circumference of th diaphragm and the atomizer platethrough which a finely atomized oil jet is sprayed in anexpandingcircular path within the engine cylinder, in the manner shownin Figure 2.

` By suitable'proportioning of the various parts, the proper quantity offuel oil for each cycle of operation of the engine cylinder will bedrawn `into and expelled from the chamber I1 by the plunger 5, and thissame quantity of fuel oil Will be periodically expelled by the atomizingelement.

It will be noted that, within the limitations set by the dimensions ofthe atomizing element, the upward movement of the shank 3 is governed bythe position of the adjusting member 1, which latter may be regulated tovary the quantity of fuel oil. delivered through'the atomizing element,

it being understood that the quantity of oil de-` livered isproportional to the stroke of the shank 3 and that the adjusting member1, operable through the adjusting wheel 8, directly controls the strokeof the shank.

Figure 4 shows a modled construction of the atomizing element in whichthe diaphragm 25 of Figure 3 is eliminated, the upper surface of theatomizer plate 4 and the lower surface of the body member I beingarranged to leave a small space therebetween through which the requisitequantity of oil is sprayed and atomized.

Figure 5 shows still another modification of the atomizing element inwhich the upper surfaceof the atomizer plate 4 and the lower surface ofthe body member I are arranged substantially as in Figure 3, butin whichthe space therebetween is made great enough vto receive a pluralityofclosely spaced diaphragms 25 generally similar to the diaphragm 25 ofFigure 3. A spacer 3" encircles and is centered on the lower part of theshank 3 and serves to center the diaphragms 25' so as to secure uniformperipheral apertures and conse- -quent uniform discharge and atomizationof the liquid fuel. The spacer is slotted, as at 3, so'as to furnish apath for the flow of fuel to the atomizing elements.`

In each of the forms of atomizing element, as shown in Figures 1, 4, and5,`the pressure necessary for ejecting and atomizing the fuel isgoverned by the -velocty of approach of the members of the atomizingelement in conjunctionwith the inertia of the fuel and the resistance tothe flow of fuel offered by the members of the atomizing element. Inaddition, in the form shown in Figure 3, the pressure is increased bythe further resistance to flow offered`by the'interposed diaphragm,which might'be said to form a closed c'ell retaining the fuel until thepressure -built up is sufficient to spring the'diaphragm and eject thefuel. 'Ihe form as shown in Figure 5, while employingv a series ofdiaphragms, is in effect a' with small size injector devices, while themulti-` disc type shown in Figure 5 is better vsuited to the largersizes.

In connection with the so called closed cell" construction of theatomizingl element as shown in Figures 3 and 5, it should be noted thatthisv construction closes the atomizing element against carbonization,and that at the same time objectionable dripping of the liquid fuel isprevented, as the fuel is retained in the cell until sufficient pressurehas been built up thereinto expel the fuel at avelocity high enough toeffect complete atomization. While the closed cell feature is notemployed in the injector device shown in l -Figure 4, practically thesame advantages are hadA in smaller sizes of devices made in accordancetherewith as with Figure 3, as the liquid fuel is retained in theatomizing element by adhesion to /the bounding walls until the necessaryatomizatin effecting pressure has been developed.

Another advantage of the diaphragm type of construction of Figures 3 and5 is that each flexing and reexing movement of the diaphragms causesaneffective though minute `wiping action between the walls defining theapertures of the atomizing element, keeping the apertures clean. Stillanother. advantage of the closed cell type of construction is that theliquid fuel is retained in contact with the entire periphery of theatomizing element, being prevented from flowing to one side, so thatuniform atomization is obtained. Here again, substantially the sameadvantage is had in smaller sizes of devices made in accordance withFigure 4, as the fuel is retained' lower surface of the body member Iand the diaphragms or discs where employed, may be different from thoseshown in the -drawing so as to suit different conditions and differentshapes of combustion or pre-combustion chambers.

In putting my invention into practice, it is preferable to so proportionand design the elements that the space between the atomizing elements iscompletely emptied on each cycle of operation; in which casea metal tometal contact between the body member I, the atomizer plate 4 and thediaphragms, where employed, is had at the end of `each upward stroke ofthe shank 3, so that the flow of heat away from the combustifn chamberthrough the body member I is facilitated-thereby preventingpre-ignition.

It will of course be appreciated that the mechaalternately returningthem to their normal position, so as to reciprocate the atomizer plate.in consonance with the cycle of operation of the engine, may be of anysuitable construction, e. g. by .direct cam-action, or by aV rocker armand cam mechanism such as is employed in automobile engine construction.

v In View of the foregoing description ity will be seen that I haveprovided a fuel injector which is lsimple in construction, light inweight, and economical to manufacture. IMy injector eliminates suchobjectionable features as high injection pressures, fuel injection pumpsand nozzles, and by reason of its freedom from'the usual highpressures,` together with the lightness of its parts and the attendantsmall mass and low inertia, it may bey operated at considerably higherspeeds than v have heretofore been obtainable in internal combustionengines,l thus making it possible to obtain higher engine speeds of themagnitude usually associated withgasoline engines. My lnventioneliminates not only cumbersome and vto troublesome air compressing andhydraulic equipment, but also the faulty operation which is inherent ininjectors which employ nozzles, which are subject to clogging anddripping. My device further eliminates uneven injection such as occursin injectors subject to pulsations in the usual high pressure fuellines. Instead, my device meters the fuel oil accurately at variousloads without the necessity of cut-olf sleeves or by-pass valves. Myinvention also enables a positive and easy adjustment of the quantity offuel supplied to an engine cylinder to be obtained. Furthermore, byreason of the delivery of the atomized oil over a wide peripheral path,danger of clogging, such as is encountered with nozzles, is avoided, andextremely fine oil filters need not be employed.

It will also be seen that I have at the same time provided an improvedmethod of injecting fuel into internal combustion engines comprisingspraying the fuel into the combustion chamber of the enginesubstantially radially over a peripheral path.

While my invention has been. described withl to be secured in operativerelation to the combustion chamber of an engine cylinder and providedwith a chamber having a fuel inlet, an opening in a wall of said bodymember for establishing communication between said chamber and thecombustion'chamber, a disc-like spraying mem-v ber disposed with respectto said opening in spaced relationship therewith in a manner to providea peripheral passage between adjacent surfaces of the spraying memberand the body member in communication with said opening and terminatingin a peripheral aperture, means to cause a flow of liquid fuel from thefuel inlet through said chamber to a point adjacent said peripheralaperture, means other than the pressure of the fuel to prevent a reverseflow of the .liquid fuel from said body member to the fuel inlet, andnormally energized releasable means to forcibly move said sprayingmember toward said opening, whereby to exert a pressure on the `fuelwithin the body member adjacent said opening and thereby expel a portionof the fuel through said peripheral aperture.

2. A liquid fuel injector for internal combustion engines comprising abody member adapted to be secured in operative relation to thecombustion chamber of an engine cylinder and provided with a chamberhaving a fuel inlet, an opening in a wall of said body member forestablishing communication between said chamber and thecombustion'chamber, a disc-like spraying member disposed with respect tosaid opening in spaced relationship therewith in a manner to provide aperipheral passage between adjacent surfaces of the spraying member andthe body member in communication with said opening, a diaphragm-likeelement disposed in said peripheral passage and arranged to form arelatively narrow peripheral aperture between the spraying member andthe diaphragm-like elethrough said chamber to a point adjacent saidperipheral aperture, means other than the pressure of the fuel toprevent a reverse flow of the liquid fuel from said body member to thefuel inlet, and normally energized releasable means tc forcibly movesaid spraying member toward said opening, whereby' tc exert a pressureon the fuel I Within the body member adjacent said opening andtherebyexpel a portion of the fuel through surfaces of the sprayingmember and the body member in 'communication with said opening andterminating in ar'elativelyrwide peripheral aperture, a plurality ofdiaphragm-like elements disposed in said peripheral passage andarrangedto divide said relatively wide peripheral aperture into a plurality ofrelatively narrow peripheral apertures in communication with saidopening, means to causea flow of liquid fuel through said chamber topoints adjacent said plurality of peripheral apertures, means to preventa reverse flow of the liquid fuel, and means to forcibly move saidspraying member toward said opening, whereby to expel a portion of thefuel through said' peripheral apertures in the form of a plurality ofspraysf 4. A liquid `fuel injector for internal combustion enginescomprising afbody member adapted to be secured in operative relation tothe combustion chamber of an engine cylinder and provided with achamber, an opening in a wall of said body member for establishingcommunication between said chamber and the combustion chamber, adisc-like spraying member disposed with respect to said opening inspaced relationship therewith in a manner to provide a peripheralIpassage between adjacent surfaces of the spraying member and the bodymember in communication with said opening, a relatively stiff butresilient diaphragm-like element dis' posed in said peripheral passageAand arranged to engage said spraying member on a peripheral path withsubstantially line contact therebetween so as to form a peripheralaperture of substantially zero width, means to cause a ow of liquid fuelthrough said chamber to a point adjacent the line of contact on saidperipheral path, means to prevent a reverse flow of the liquid fuel, andmeans to forcibly move said spraying member toward said opening, wherebyto cause said diaphragm-like element to flex and open up a relativelynarrow peripheral aperture between it and the spraying member and toexpel a portion o-f the fuel through said aperture in the form of aspray.

5. A liquid fuel injector for internal combustion engines comprising abody member adapted to be secured in operative relation to thecombustion chamber of an engine cylinder and provided with a chamber, anopening in a wall of said body member for establishing communicationbetween said chamber and the combustion chamber, a disc-like sprayingmember disposed with respect to. said opening in spaced relationshiptherewith in a manner to provide a relatively wide peripheral passagebetween adjacent surfaces of the spraying member and the body member incommunication with said opening and terminating in a relatively wideperipheral aperture, a plurality of relatively stiff but resilientdiaphragm-like elements disposed in said peripheral passage and arrangedto divide said relatively wide petoward said opening, whereby to causesaid diaphragm-like elements to flex and open Aup a plurality ofrelatively4 narrow peripheral apertures between the narrow passagedefining elements and to expel a portion of the fuel through saidplurality of apertures in the form vof a plurality of sprays.

6. A liquid fuel injector Yfor internal combustion engines comprising abody member adapted to be connected in operative relation to thecombustion chamber of an engine cylinder and provided with a chamber, alongitudinal passage through said body member terminating at one end inthe rst mentioned chamber and at the other end' in a second chamber ofsaid body member adjacent its point of connection with, the combustionchamber, an'opening in the Wall of said body member at its end adjacent'the` combustion chamber in alignment with said longitudinal passage andestablishing communi` cation between said second named chamber and thecombustion chamber, a spindle mounted with a close Working fit insaidlongitudinal passage and extending within said first mentioned chamberat its upper end and within the combustion chamber at its lower end,said spindle and the opening into the combustion chamber beingof suchrelative size as to leave an annular passage from said second namedchamber to the combustion chamber, a disc-like spraying member mountedon the lower end of said spindle vin spaced relationship with saidannular passage in a manner to provide a peripheral passage betweenadjacent surfaces of the spraying member and the body member and incommunication with said annular passage and terminating in a peripheralaperture, a plunger mounted on the upper end of said spindle within thefirst mentioned chamber and engaging the wall thereof with a closeworking fit, a fuel inlet connected to said first mentioned chamber atapoint below said plungenmeans to prevent a flow of fuel out Aof saidfirst mentioned chamber through said fuel inlet, a fuel outlet connectedto said first mentioned chamber at a point below said plunger, a passageconnecting said fuel outlet with said second named chamber, means toforcibly reciprocate said spindle to alternately draw fuel into saidfirst mentioned chamber and to cause it to flow through said connectingpassage, said second named chamber, and said annular passage to a pointvadjacent said peripheral aperture, means to prevent a reverse flow ofthe fuel from said connecting passage to said iirst mentioned chamber,the forcible upward movement of said spindle serving to move saidspraying member toward said annular passage, whereby to expel a portionof the fuel through said peripheral aperture.

7. A liquid fuel injector for internal combustion engines comprising abody member provided with a chamber having a fuel inlet, means to securesaid body member in operative relation to the combustion chamber of anengineA cylinder, an opening in a Wall of said body member forestablishing communication between said chamber and the combustionchamber, a spraying member disposed with respect to said opening inspaced relationship therewith in a manner to provide a peripheralpassage between adjacent surfaces of the spraying member and the bodymember in communication with said opening,

means to cause a flow of liquid fuel from the fuel inlet through saidchamber to the space constituted by said peripheral passage, withinwhich saidI liquid fuel is temporarily retained, means other than thepressure of the fuel to prevent a reverse flow of the liquid fuel fromsaid body 'member tothe fuel inlet, and normally energized releasablemeans to forcibly move said spraying member toward said\opening, wherebyto exert a pressure on the fuel within the' body member adjacent saidopening and thereby expel atleast a portion of the fuel from saidperipheral passage.

'8. A liquid fuel injector forinternal combustion engines scomprising abody member provided with a chamber having a fuel inlet, means to securesaid body member in operative relation to ythe combustion chamber of anengine cylinder,

an opening in a Wall of said body member fory establishing communicationbetween said chamber and the combustion chamber, a spraying memberdisposed with respect to said opening in spaced relationship therewithin a mannervto vprovide a peripheral passage between adjacent surfacesof the spraying member and the body member in communication with saidopening, means to cause a flow ofliquid fuel from the fuel inlet through-said chamber to the space constituted by said peripheral passage, meansto temporarily retain the liquid fuel within said peripheral passage,means other than thepressure of the fuel to prevent a reverse ow of theliquid 'l the combustion chamber of an engine cylinder, an

opening in a wall of said body member forestablishing communicationbetween said chamber and4 the combustion chamber, a spraying memberdisposed with respect to said opening in relatively close but spacedrelationship therewith in 'a manner to provide a peripheral passagebetween adjacent surfaces of the spraying member and the body member incommunication with said opening, means to cause a ow of liquid fuel fromthe fuel inlet through said chamber tothe space constituted by saidperipheral passage, within which said liquid fuel is temporarilyretainediin lmlike relation by adhesion to the adjacent surfaces of thespraying member and the body member, means other than the pressure ofthe fuel to prevent a reverse flow of the liquid fuel from said bodymember to the fuel inlet, and normally energized releasable means toforcibly move said spraying member toward said opening, whereby to exertpressure on the fuel within the body member adjacent said opening andthereby expel at least a portion of therfuel from said peripheralpassage.

, 10. Aliquid fuel injector for intern-al combustion engines comprisinga body member provided with a chamber having a fuel inlet, means tosecure said body member in operative relation to the combustion chamberof an engine cylinder, an opening in a wall of said body member forestablishing communication between said chamber and the combustionchamber, a spraying member disposed w'lth respect to said opening inspaced relationship therewith in a manner to provide a peripheralpassage between adjacent surfacesy of the spraying member and= the bodymember in communication with said opening, means to cause a flow ofliquid fuel from the fuel inlet through said chamber to the spaceconstituted by said peripheral passage, means to temporarily retain theliquid fuel within said peripheral passage with the aid of film-likeadhesion of the liquid fuel to adjacent surfaces within the peripheralpassage, means other th-an the pressure of the fuel to prevent a reverseflow of the liquid fuel from said body member to the fuel inlet, andnormally energized releasable means to forcibly move said sprayingmember toward said opening, whereby to exert a pressure on the fuelwithin the body member adjacent said opening and thereby expel at leasta portion of the fuel from said peripheral passage.

11. 'I'he method of injecting liquid fuel into an internal combustionengine which comprises supplying the fuel between a plurality of spacedsurfaces from a source of supply of fuel, preventing a reverse flow ofthe fuel from between said plurality of spaced surfaces to the source ofsupply, and causing said surfaces to suddenly approach each other fromtheir initial spaced -relationf ship, whereby pressure is exerted on thefuel between the approaching surfaces so that the fuel is therebyforcibly ejected from between said surfaces and atomized.

12. The method of injecting liquid fuel into an internal combustionengine which comprises supplying the fuel between a plurality of spacedsurfaces from a source of supply of fuel, preventing a reverse ow of thefuel from between said plurality of spaced surfaces to the source ofsupply and causing said surfaces to suddenly approach each other fromtheir initial spaced relationship to direct contact therebetween,whereby pressure is exerted on the fuel between the approaching.surfaces so that the fuel is thereby forcibly ejected from between saidsurfaces and atomized. Y

13. A liquid fuel injector for internal combustion engines comprising abody member provided with a chamber having a fuel inlet, means to securesaid body member in operative relation to the combustion chamber of anengine cylinder, an opening in va wall of said body member incommunication with said combustion chamber, a passage in said bodymember establishing communication between said chamber and said opening,a'spraying member disposed with respect to V said opening in spacedrelationship therewith in a manner to provide a peripheral passagebetween adjacent surfaces of the spraying member and body member invcommunication vwith said opening and terminating in a peripheralaperture, means to effect a flow of liquid fuel from the fuel inletinto-said chamber in a predetermined quantity and to effect a ow of anequal quantity ofliquid fuel from said chamber through said passage to apoint adjacent said peripheral aperture, means other than the pressureof the fuel to prevent a reverse flow of the fuelgi'rorm;

. to be secured in operative relation to the combustion chamber of anengine cylinder and provided with a chamber having a fuel inlet, a1ongitudinal passage through said body lmember y terminating `at one endin the first mentioned chamber and at the otherv end in a second chamberof said body member adiacent its point of connection with the combustionchamber, an opening in the Wall of said body`member at its end adjacentthe combustion chamber in alignment with said longitudinal passage. andestablishing communication between said second named chamber and theycombustion chamber, a spindle mounted with' a close working fit in saidlongitudinal passage and extending within said first mentioned chamberat its upper end and within the combustion chamber at its lower end,said spindle and the opening into the combustion chamber being of such;relative size as to leave an annular passage from said second namedchamber to the combustion chamber, a disc-like spraying member mountedon the lower end of said spindle in spaced relationship with saidannular passage in a manner to provide a peripheral passage betweenadjacent surfaces of the spraying member and the body member incommunication with said annular passage and terminating in a peripheralaperture, means associated with said spindle Within the first mentionedchamber to` causeia flow of liquid fuel from the fuel inlet through saidfirst mentioned chamber to a point adjacent said peripheral aperture,means other 'than the pressure of the fuel to prevent -a reverse flow ofthe liquid fuel from said body member to the fuel inlet, and

said peripheral aperture comprising means to subject said spindle to ahammer-like blow in a .direction away from the combustion chamber of theengine cylinder; whereby to forcibly move said spraying member towardsaid annular passage and to thereby exert a fuel expelling pressure onthe fuel Within the body member.

15. Ayliquid fuel injector for internal combustion engines comprising abody'member provided with a chamber having a fuel inlet, means to securesaid member in operative relation to the combustion chamber of an enginecylinder', an opening in a WallI of said body member for establishingcommunication between said chamber and the combustion chamber,reciprocatable means to expel a portion of the fuel Athrough meansmounted within said body member, a

spraying member Acarried bylsaid reciprocatable means and disposed withrespect to said opening in spaced relationship therewith in a manner totablishing communication between said chamber provide a peripheralpassage between adjacent surfaces of the spraying member and the bodymember in communication with said opening, means operable within saidbodyfr'nember to cause a ow of liquid fuel from the'fuel inlet throughsaid chamber to the space constituted by said peripheral4 passage,within which said liquid fuel is temporarily retained,A means other thanthe pressure of the fuel to prevent a reverse flow of the liquid fuelfrom said body member to the fuel inletfand means to expel a portion ofthe fuel from said peripheral passage comprising means to subject ,saidreciprocatable means to a hammer-like blow in a direction v away fromthe combustion chamber of the engine cylinder; 4whereby to forcibly movesaid spraying memberrtoward said opening and to thereby exert a, felexpelling pressure on the fuel within the body member.

i6; A liquid fuel injector for internal combustion engines comprising abody member adapted to be secured in operative relation to thecombustion chamber of an engine cylinder and provided with achamberhaving a fuel inlet, an opening in a wall `of said body memberfor esand the combustion chamber, reciprocatable means mounted withinsaid body member, a disc-like spraying memberr carried by said reciperocatable means ,and disposed with respect to said opening in spacedrelationship therewith in a manner to provide a peripheral aperturebetween adjacent surfaces of the spraying member and the body member inAcommunication with said opening and terminating in a peripheralaperture, meansoperable withinr said body member to cause a flow ofliquidvfuel from the fuel inlet through said chamber to a point adjacentsaid peripheral aperture, means other than the pressure of the fuel toprevent a reverse flow of the liquid fuel from said body member to thefuel inlet, and means to expel a portion of the fuel through saidperipheral aperture com` 4prising means to subject said reciprocatablemeans to a hammer-like blowin a direction` away from the combustion.chamber of the engine cylinder; whereby to forcibly move said L sprayingmember toward said opening and to thereby exert a fuel expellingpressure on the fuel 'within the body member.

17. A liquid fuel injector for internal combustion engines comprising -abody member adapted to be securedin operative relation to `thecombustion chamber of an engine cylinder.

and provided with a chamber having a fuel inlet, an opening in a wall ofsaid body member for establishing Acommunication, between said chamberand the combustion chamber, a disclike spraying member disposedwithvrespect to" said opening in spaced relationship therewith in amanner to provide a peripheral passage between adjacent surfaces of thespraying member.

and the body member in communication with said opening and terminatingin a peripheral aperture, means operable within said body member tocause a flow of liquid fuel'from the fuel inlet through said chamber toa point adjacent said peripheral aperture, means other than the pressureof the fuel to prevent a reverseflow of the liquid fuel from said bodymember to the fuel inlet, and normally energized releasable means toforcibly move said' spraying member t6- ward said opening, whereby t'oexert a pressure on the fuel withinl the body member adjacent an openingin av wall of said body member for establishing communication betweensaid chamber and the combustion chamber, a spraying member disposed withrespect to said opening in spaced relationship therewith in a manner toprovide a peripheral passage between adjacent surfaces of the sprayingmember and the body member in communication with said opening, meansoperable within the body member to cause a flow of liquid fuel from thefuel inlet through said chamber to the space constituted bysaidperipheral passage, within which said liquid fuel is 'temporarilyretained,"v means other than the pressure of the fuel to prevent areverse ow of the liquid fuel from said body member to the fuel inlet,and normally energized releasable means to forcibly move said sprayingmember toward said opening, whereby to exert a pressure on the fuelwithin the body member adjacent said 'opening and thereby expel at leasta portion of the fuel from said peripheral passage.

19. A liquid fuel injector for internal combustion engines comprising aplurality of spaced elements presenting opposed surfaces, means tosupply a quantity of liquid fuel between said opposed surfaces and toisolate the same from the source of supply thereof, and means to causeat least one of said surfaces to suddenly approach the other from theirinitial `spaced relationship, whereby pressure is exerted on the fuelbetween the approaching surfaces and the fuel is forciblyI ejected frombetween said surfaces and atomized.

20. A liquid fuel injector for internal combustion engines comprising aplurality of spaced elements presenting opposed surfaces, a body membermovably mounting at least one of said elements, means in said bodymember' to supply a quantity of liquid fuel between said opposedsurfaces and to isolate the same -from the source of supply thereof, andmeans to causeat least one of said surfaces to suddenly approach the ofspaced surfaces during one portion of a cycle,

isolating a quantity of fuell including said prede# termined quantityfrom the source of supply thereof, an causing at least one of saidsurfaces to su denly approach the other from their initial spacedrelationship, whereby pressure is exerted on the fuel between theapproaching surfaces and a quantity of fuel equivalent to saidpredetermined quantity ,is vforcibly ejected from between said surfacesduring another portion of the cycle and atomized.

22. A liquidffuel injector for internal combustion engines comprising aplurality of space elements presenting opposed surfaces, a relativelystiff but resilient diaphragm-like element dis. posed between saidsurfaces and adapted to form a normally closed cell with at least one ofsaid surfaces, means to supply a quantity of liquid fuel to said celland to isolate the same from the source of supply thereof, and means tocause at adapted to form at least one normally closed cell with saidsurfaces, means to supply a quantity of liquid fuel to said cell and toisolate the same from the source of supply thereof, and means to causeat least one of said surfaces to approach the other from their initiallyspaced relationshipv to thereby flex the diaphragms, whereby pressure isexerted on the fuel in said cell and the fuelv is forcibly ejectedtherefrom and atomized.

PETER C. ZUll/IBUSCH.

